Page 95 of Wicked Truths
I take another sip. “It was just getting serious.”
“And does Poppy know?”
“No.” I set my glass down harder than intended. “Not yet.”
“Are you going to tell her?”
“Of course I am,” I snap, irritated by his questioning. “When the time is right.”
Dom leans forward, his voice dropping dangerously low. “You know I could kill you for touching her.”
I don’t flinch. “I love her, Dom. I never realized how much until I nearly lost her.” My voice cracks slightly. “I haven’t felt this way since my wife died. Don’t take her away from me.”
He studies me for a long moment, then a slight smile crosses his face. “You’re a brave man, Caleb. I’ll give you that.”
“Or stupid,” I reply.
Dom’s smile widens. “Perhaps.”
I drain my whiskey. “But you’re not going to kill me.”
“Don’t outstay your welcome, Caleb.” His voice is calm, almost friendly, which somehow makes it more threatening. “I haven’t decided how I’m going to deal with you yet.”
I set the empty glass down, staring at Dom across his massive desk. The tension between us crackles like static electricity.
“You want her too,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
Dom’s expression doesn’t change, but something flashes in his eyes. “It doesn’t matter what I want if she doesn’t remember us, Caleb. And if she does remember, she’ll wonder why your brother was the leading detective the night the club was raided. The night she nearly died. Have you ever thought about that?”
My stomach drops. “My brother?”
Dom nods, leaning back in his chair. “And Amara was up to something before the accident. Asking me very strange questions. Any idea of why? Did you ask her to get information for your brother?”
I shake my head, genuinely confused. “No. What kind of questions?”
“About my business. About the club.” He taps his fingers on the desk. “Amara was at the club. Your brother was at the club, and I only got out because of where I was at the time of the raid.”
My mind races, trying to connect dots I can’t see. Jack hasn’t mentioned anything about Amara or the raid. Why would he?
“I promise I had nothing to do with it,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “I didn’t even know Jack was involved.”
Dom studies me, his face unreadable. “I’ll find out the truth, Caleb. And when I do, I’ll deal with you in a way that’s suitable.”
I straighten up, my pulse quickening. “You’re threatening me?”
“It’s not a threat, Caleb.” He stands, towering over me. “I prefer for you to know, and then you can work out whether coming to see Amara is beneficial to you. Maybe you’d like to go to America with your daughter and forget about her.”
I laugh. “That would suit you.”
Dom nods, his face impassive and his voice missing humor. “It would make things simpler.”
“I’m not leaving her here with you. You might have been the one who tried to kill her.” I lean forward, planting my hands on his desk. “Why me? What do I have to gain from her death?”
Dom’s eyes narrow. “I never said you had anything to gain from her dying. But maybe you have something to gain by using her to get information about me for your brother.”
My throat tightens. I swallow hard, trying to maintain my composure. “You’re my friend.”
“Am I?” Dom tilts his head, studying me like I’m a specimen under a microscope. His fingers drum against the polished wood of his desk, the soft tapping filling the tense silence between us.
